Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01


pipes, after having prepared the ladies
supper, with the assistance of an Indian
woman, who apparently emerged from the
earth nt tl,c coming Of the party, and dis
appearel g; IS. sriously. !.
@Aliee," sai,.---s Rightbody, with . sus-
picious assu--. ..o.i of sudden defence, ayou
injure yourself, you injure me, by this exclu-
sive attitude. Mr.. Ryder is a friend Of your
fathers, an exceedingly well informed gentle
man. have not, of course, impaired to him
the extent Of my suspicious. But he can help
me to what l must and will know. You
might treat him little moro civilly-or, at
least, little better than you do his servant
your guide. Mr.. Ryder is gentleman, and
not a paid courier"
Miss Alice was suddenly att entive. Whn
she spoke again, she asked, 1Why do you mot
find something about this Sisbie-who died
or was hung--or something Of that kindF
"ChildI" said Mrs. Rightbody, adon't you
see there was no Silsbie, or, II thsrs
was, he was simply the confidant ct that
womanr
A knock at the door, announcing the pres
ence Of Mr.. Ryder and Stanislaus Joe with
the horses checked Mrs. Rightbodys speech.
As the animals were being packed, Ma
Rightbody for moment withdrew in conf
dental conversation with Mr.. Ryder, and, 10
the young lady's still greater annoyance, LETT
her alone with stanislaus Joe. Mss Alics
- was not in good temper, but shs felt it nsoes-
sdfy uUmyssemething.
II hope the hosk' offers better quarters for
travellers than this in bsmmsr." " abe began.
ut does"
"Then this does not belong to 1T"
"No ma'am."
"Who lives here, thenf"
ado"
u beg your pardon, !" stammered Miw Ahos,
Il thought you lived where we hired
where we met you-in-in- You must ex-
cuse me-"
SIN not a regular guide; but - times wore
hard, and was out of grub, I took the job"
"Out of grubi" "jobp And she WAS the
''job." What would Henry Marvin say9 II
would nearly kill him. She began herself to
feel little frightened, and walked towards
the door.
"One moment, missI"
The young girl hesitated. The mans tine
was surly, and yet indicated certain kind ce
half-pathetic grievance Her curiosity got
the better of her prudence, and she turnsd
back
"This morning." he began hastily, awhsn
we were coming down the valley, you picked
me up twice"
picked you upr repeated the astouished
Alice.
Eyes, contradictcd me; that's what I
mean; once when you said those rocks !weaU
volcanic, once when you said the flower you
picked was poppy. didn't let on At the
time, for it wasn't my say; but all the while
you were talking = might have laid for
you"
II don't understand you," said Alice
haughtily.
II might have entrapped you before folks
But only want you to know that I'm right,
and here are the books to show it."
He drew aside the dingy calico curtain, re-
vealed small shelf of bulky books, took
down too large volumes-one of botany, ons
of geology-nervously sought his text 8nd
put them in Alice's outstretched hands.
II had no Intention" she began, half
proudly, half embarrassedly.
"Am right, misss" he interrupted
II presume you are, if you say son
THAT'S all, ma'am. Thank you'll"
Before the girl had time to reply he wa3
gone. When lie again returned it was with
her horse, and Mrs. Rightbody and Ryder
were awaiting her. But Miss Alice noticed
that his own horse was missing.
"Are you not going with usi" she asked.
"No, maam."
"Oh, indeedr .~----,
Miss Alice felt her speech was . feeble con-
ventionalism, but it was all she could say
She, however, did something Hitherto IL
had been her habit to systematically reject his
assistance in mounting to her seat Now she
awaited him. As he approached she smiled
and put out her little foot He instantly
stopped, she placed it in his hand, rose with
spring and for one supreme moment Stanis- !
laus Joe held her INCREASINGLY in his arma
The next moment she was in the saddle, but
in that brief interval Of sixty seconds she had
uttered volume in single sentence:
II hope you will forgive mel"
He muttered reply, and turned his ms
aside quickly as if to hide it.
Miss Alice cantered forward with . smile,
but pulled her hat down over her eyes - she
Joined her mother. She was blushing.
The message Jagged . little a4 San Fran
cisco, laid over half an hour at Chicago, and
fought longitude ths whole way; % thas ~
was past midnight when the AL night" opsE.
ator took it from the wires as Boston. But
It was freighted with . mandate from IL
San Francisco Office; and . messenger wae
procured, who sped with II through dari
mow bound streets. betwssn the high walk
Of close-shuttered rayle@ houses, to certAt1/
formal square, ghostly with snow ccversd'
statues. Here he ascsnded the broad steps a
. reserved and solid looking mansion, and
pulled q bronze bell knob, that somewbsEo
within those chaste recesses, after an appareue
reflective pause, coldly communicated the
fact that a stranger was waiting without -,
he ought Despite the lateness Of the hofrs
there was a slight glow from the windots,|
clearly not enough to warm tho messenfel
with indications Of . festivity within, ~
yet bespeaking, as it were, some prolonfo
though subdued excitement The sober
want who took the dispatch, and rsceipe
for it as gravely as II witnessing last NJ
and testament, respectfully paused befo
the entrance of the drawing room
sound Of measured and rhetorical Sped
through which the occasional catarrh
cough Of the New England coast struggle
a. the only effect Of nature not wholly 3